Tyre-screeching treat for Durbanites at Red Bull Drift event
This was the fourth Red Bull Car Park Drift in South Africa with a growth and love for the sport from the spectators and the drivers alike.
CAR enthusiasts were treated to a spectacle when South Africa’s top drifters gathered at the Suncoast Arena in Durban to compete for this year’s Red Bull Car Park Drift title on Saturday.
After some heated battles, Jim McFarlane from Johannesburg became the first driver to clinch the Red Bull Car Park Drift title for the third time.
This year’s competition was extremely tight with Christopher Long, Juan Stemmet, Jim McFarlane and Riaan Stokes drifting their way into the final round, having battled with over 40 other drivers.
“It’s incredible winning the title for the third time. I came in today wanting to get the treble and to do it in front of my friends and family, especially my son, which is an amazing feeling,” said Jim McFarlane. “The competition has grown over the years and has become tighter. With so many young drivers coming into the fold and showcasing so much talent, there is no need to worry about the future of drifting in South Africa.”
The qualifying rounds were held on Friday, April 12, with more than 40 drivers from around the country battling it out to secure their place in the top 20 that competed in Saturday’s final.
Consisting of a mix of old and new faces, the top 20 took on a tough obstacle course prepared by world-renowned motorsport champion, Guinness Record holder and Red Bull athlete, Abdo Feghali.
“This is the fourth Red Bull Car Park Drift in South Africa, and I’ve seen so much growth and love for the sport from the spectators and the drivers themselves. I am always amazed by the crowd that comes out to watch and support the sport. This is what makes us come back and host this competition here in Durban.”
The day was not short of any entertainment as Red Bull athlete and five-time South African aerobatics champion, Pat Davidson, opened the event with his impressive aerial show.
Local spinners Team Sidewayz displayed their skills that filled the Suncoast Arena with smoke and tyre-screeching sounds while the drifting expert and host, Vic Pardal, aka ‘the loudest man on African soil’, kept the crowd and the drivers’ energy on a high throughout the event.
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